Collaboration in Innovative Approaches to Content Delivery over Internet2 Networks
Ongoing Call for Participation
The goals of Internet2 are to develop and deploy advanced
network applications and technologies, accelerating the creation
of tomorrow's Internet. As the uses of the Abilene Network
develop, the policies governing its use are reviewed frequently.
The Abilene Conditions of Use (CoU) recently have been modified
to allow explicitly content-based traffic from corporate participants
in addition to the already recognized uses of the network.
"Content-based traffic" in this context means both
advanced object forms, such as video, audio, and multimedia
streams, radar and medical images, and advanced uses of standard
content, such as text-based information.
Appropriate, effective policies and guidelines are best developed
based on experience. In order to gain this experience, Internet2
is issuing this Call for Participation to its members, asking
them to propose compelling, exemplary advanced content applications
that will be valuable to the mission of member universities.
We hope that this Call this will be accepted both as an opportunity
and as a challenge by the membership. Proposed advanced content-based
applications should be designed to help the Internet2 community
better understand:
- Content application performance as measurably delivered
to end users
- Best practices for content and applications developers
- Best practices for applications management and monitoring
- Ways that advanced content-based applications can support
the teaching, research, and clinical missions of our universities
Eligibility
Regular (University) Members, Corporate Members, and Affiliate
Members of Internet2 are invited to submit proposals. Collaboration
with at least one University Member is required.
Guidelines for Advanced Content Projects
Elements of a solid proposal will include a strong combination
of the following properties:
- The proposed projects must have technical requirements
above and beyond what can be achieved on the commercial
Internet. For example, a project could demonstrate the delivery
of interactive broadcast-quality video and high fidelity
audio, up to and including high-definition television (e.g.,
HD/IP) and multi-channel audio.
- Since Internet2 serves as a testbed for innovative applications,
the proposed projects should involve content and/or delivery
formats that differ from those commonly used on the commercial
Internet. Delivery format includes: encoding format, level
of interactivity, scaling, and management tool integration.
For example, distributing educational multimedia in MPEG-2
format via multicast would be appropriate.
- The proposed projects should reflect a close degree of
collaboration between one or more Internet2 member universities
and corporate and/or affiliate members.
In addition, the following guidelines will apply to the proposals:
- All collected network performance data must be freely
available to the Internet2 community.
Content providers collaborating on these projects must be
Internet2 members, and all existing policies governing Abilene
participation apply.
- Each project will be of a limited term (initially for
one year and extensible for an additional year at most).
- Each proposal should discuss how other Internet2 member
universities - in addition to the set of initial collaborators
- might participate in subsequent stages of the project.
At the same time, it should be emphasized that participation
by other Internet2 members in these projects is strictly
voluntary.
Internet2 will make no claim on the intellectual property
rights for the content produced and distributed through these
collaborations. Collaborative projects that include a cost
recovery component will be considered.
Proposals should:
- Describe the intellectual merit of the proposed activity
and the benefit to the higher education community.
- Define the advanced nature of the project and its value
to advancing the Internet2 mission.
- Specify research, development, and deployment aspects
relevant to Internet2 Working Groups.
- Describe the collaborative aspects of the project.
- Describe the technology transfer/absorption aspects of
the proposed activity.
- Define the proposed time frame and stages of the project.
- Describe the basis of any cost recovery arrangements (if
any).
Review process:
Proposals should be sent via e-mail to content-collab@internet2.edu.
Proposals will be accepted at any time, and the review process
will be ongoing. Proposals will be evaluated based on the
guidelines and requirements stated in this memo. Reviewers
will be drawn from the Internet2 community.
Reporting requirements:
Status reports will be requested twice a year and will be
made accessible to the Internet2 community via the Web and
other means. More frequent or ongoing reporting, including
project presentations and demonstrations during Internet2
meetings, is encouraged.
Time frame:
The focus of this initial Call of Participation will be to
define and develop experiences in both technical and policy
arenas that will enable the Internet2 community to develop
policies and guidelines that fit the needs of the community.
This trial period - not to exceed two years - will be an iterative
process with scheduled review and revision as needed.
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